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 Topic: Understanding Electrics
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05/5/2019 at 11:39am
Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
Outfit: Romahome R30 Dimens
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I would also suggest not thinking about how much power you need to do the things you want, but how much you really need. I would caution against the idea of using an inverter to run 240V appliances. For small items like charging your laptop - OK, but NOT for boiling a kettle.
If you haven't already got them, fit LED internal lights, they use very little power.
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Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
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05/5/2019 at 2:28pm
Location: Teesside
Outfit: Mitsubishi ASX4
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Our new motorhome has a similar setup. Everything depends on the type of motorhoming you intend to do. If staying on sites with EHU, then do nothing. If wanting to be off the grid then it depends on what you need to use the electricity for. Generally in summer the solar panel will keep the battery charged. In winter the heater will use the 12v and you will probably then need more than one battery.
If you have 2 batteries they ought to be the same construction, not necessarily the same make. Frankly if you want to buy more expensive ones, you will never see much of a return. At the end of the day all will depend how much 12v you use and how quickly the solar panel can recharge it.
Avoid inverters like the plague. You can't use them for anything much, and these days there are 12v alternatives such as tooth brushes or razors that charge from a USB socket. Perhaps the only essential use would be for charging electric bikes.
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05/5/2019 at 6:10pm
Location: Ayrshire
Outfit: Auto2DSleeper+MHs
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You will (presumably) have gas for heating air & water, and for the fridge too, if necessary. (Ours is an LPG tank that we fill at fuel stations. Seems to last forever). We have solar panels & the "issue" leisure battery, and we're fine off EHU for several days, even in winter. The one time the leisure battery drained somewhat was outside the house when we'd left something switched on, in the early days before we got more careful about turning off the control panel at the back door.
You won't be able to lay up for free (aka "wild" camping) for weeks on end because at some point (every 3-4 days) you will have to have a night on a site to empty your chemical toilet & grey waste and fill up with fresh water. You'd get a hookup & it would top up everything.
But that's just my experience. I'm not an electrical expert at all.
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2025=3 sites, 5 nights; 2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.
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05/5/2019 at 7:42pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo
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If you are buying a new motorhome I would expect the supplying dealer to give you all the information you need.
The solar panel should have a rating, probably 100 watt. If it is 100watt or more it will give out a fair amount of power from about April to September and less so in winter.
100watts is the output under a standard amount of sun at a standard ambient temperature. Obviously you won't always have those standard conditions so output will vary.
If you look at this site the 3rd column of graphs shows the output of all the solar panels in the country in the red line. It shows daily, weekly, monthly and at the bottom, for the past year by month. You can see just how much it varies.
http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/
If you park under a tree so it is in shadow it won't produce anything.
The solar panel should have a controller in a cupboard somewhere inside the MH. This will automatically control the solar output to the battery taking into account its state of charge and whether you are on EHU. You shouldn't need to do anything to it. Hopefully it will show if it is charging or if the battery is fully charged.
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05/5/2019 at 7:58pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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One thing to bear in mind is to avoid anything containing a heating element unless you are on mains electricity. Electricity is not good at providing heat, especially at low voltages, so you will use a tremendous amount of battery power to produce very little heat. Water pumps use quite a bit of power, but you mostly only use them for seconds at a time, so not a big problem.
Also, as Freeatlast says, forget inverters. They use power even with nothing connected to them and even more when you plug something in. A very small one used sparingly may be ok though.
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Best Regards,
Colin
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06/5/2019 at 9:36am
Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
Outfit: Romahome R30 Dimens
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Fin676, you must live in the same area as me, so if you see a Romahome r30, give us a wave - I think it's the only one in the county.
I really don't share your concern about Lead acid batteries. If they were prone to giving problems I expect this would be well known. Lead acid batteries generally 'maintenance free' or have a vent tube to the outside to conduct any gas away from the van. Gel batteries are more often used when they might be prone to movement or damage. AGM batteries are in many ways superior, but more expensive.
So, you pays your money and you take your pick.
However, if you do add another battery, make sure it is the same type and rating as the first one.
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Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
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06/5/2019 at 10:34am
Location: West Midlands
Outfit: peugeot coachbuilt motorhome
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Over many years I have used lead acid leisure batteries with no problems. they normally last me at least 5-6 years before starting to lose their holding capacity.
One thing you must never do is for them to be run flat without charging, they will never recover.
I normally pay about £90 for my 110amp leisure battery, its constantly charged by a 90 watt solar panel, (when its bright or sunny). I never feel the need to have EHU and pay the silly prices asked on some sites for it, then again I don't go away in winter when that would be needed.
I run my stove,boiler,gas fridge and heater by gas. My L.E.D.lights and my low wattage TV from the leisure battery.
Post last edited on 06/05/2019 10:43:50
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kiev
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via mobile 07/5/2019 at 9:08am
